Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
January 5, 2022
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Janesville congregation readies home for Afghan refugees |
A family of six newly arrived Afghan refugees has a pleasantly furnished Milwaukee duplex awaiting them thanks in large part to First Congregational UCC in Janesville.
A team of about 10 volunteers gathered at the church the Wednesday after Christmas to load two vans and two trucks with donated household goods provided by an interfaith network organized by First Congregational. The network included Delavan UCC, which donated gift cards intended to purchase clothing, and the Janesville Muslim Dawah Circle.
“To be given kind of a fresh start and not have to think about possessions and materials, I think that’s huge,” one of the volunteers, John Mansur, told the Janesville Gazette. Continue reading article
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In this issue: scroll down to find these articles |
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- Coping with the omicron surge
- Immigration: Monthly time to reflect
- Generous Congregations seminar
- Enbridge pipeline webinar
- Recommended reading
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- UCCI opens registration for camps, events
- Rethinking youth ministry
- Webinar: getting congress to act
- Help others
- Conference transitions
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How are you coping with the omicron surge? |
The Wisconsin Conference wants to know how you and your congregation are navigating the most recent surge of COVID-19, driven by the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Have you changed the way your worship? What kind of support can the Conference provide? Let us know by taking this brief survey.
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UCC immigration chief to host monthly time for reflection |
The Rev. Irene Willis Hassan, the UCC’s minister for refugee and migration ministries, will host a monthly Zoom meeting for individuals and congregations engaged in ministry to refugees. The sessions will occur on the second Tuesday of every month, with the first scheduled for 5 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Click here to participate.
“The tenor will be intentionally reflective for churches to deepen their spiritual engagement with the powerful and important ministries we share together in addressing refugee and migration issues across the denomination,” Hassan said in an email announcing the series. She noted that amid the tasks essential to establishing refugees in the new homes, it’s important to reflect.
“On the journeys we take with vulnerable populations, very heavy moments can arise that we need help processing, or situations of power and privilege that we may not recognize without preparing ourselves, or we may just need each other to know that we’re not alone when we’re walking around in dark places with flickering candles,” Hassan said.
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Generous Congregations training coming
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Mark your calendars now for a Cultivating Generous Congregations seminar series coming this winter and spring. The series is aimed at pastors and lay leaders and offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical and reliable ways to promote generosity in congregations. The series is a collaboration between the UCC and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.
Sessions will be held virtually from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Central time on these Thursdays: Feb. 24, March 10, March 24, April 7, April 28 and May 12. Participants will be given readings, videos and reflections to complete between seminar meetings.
Congregations must send a team of at least two people to participate. Seminar fee is $300 for a two-person team, due at registration. Each additional team member costs $150.
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Reminder: Enbridge pipeline webinar is Jan. 6
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First Congregational UCC in Appleton is hosting a Zoom webinar from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, on the threat posed by Enbridge gas and oil pipelines to the Great Lakes watershed. Topics will include permitting for the Enbridge pipelines, the environmental impact statement on Enbridge Line 5 issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and ways individuals can register their opinions with regulators.
Attendees will hear from a four-member panel of experts who will explain the issues raised by oil and gas pipelines in the Great Lakes watershed. The webinar is made possible in part by a Catalyst grant from the Wisconsin Conference.
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Sarasota Magazine reports on a UCC pastor who strives to make church a place where all people feel they belong. . . . Religion News Service names 10 rising stars in the world of religion. . . . In a deeply personal essay, Peter Marty, editor and publisher of The Christian Century, introduces us to the caring legacy of St. Dymphna, patron saint of mental illness.
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Registration for 2022 camps and events opens Jan. 8
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United Church Camps Inc. will open registration for 2022 camps and events at 9:09 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8. New and exciting events are planned at the three UCCI campuses: Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley. Check out the full event list.
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Virtual conference to examine future of youth ministry |
The National Setting will offer a two-day virtual conference Feb. 7-8 for 100 youth ministers and leaders designed to rethink the future of youth ministry, The conference, "Re-imagining for Tomorrow: Building the Future for Our Youth," will examine the direction of youth ministry world turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration can be completed here.
In addition, anyone who has regular contact with youth in the UCC is asked to complete a short survey to provide additional insight to the Faith INFO team and National Setting. Access the survey here through Feb. 1.
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Political action to be focus of Creation Justice webinar |
"Power concedes nothing without a demand," Frederick Douglass said. The next Creation Justice webinar will focus on the art and craft of making a demand, focusing specifically on how people of faith can best organize themselves to place pressure on Congress to act in 2022. The webinar will feature three panelists with local and national experience as organizers: the Rev. A. Kazimir Brown from the Poor People's Campaign, the Rev. Chibuzo Nimmo Petty from For Our Future, and Kim McMurray from Indivisible. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of noon Central time on Wednesday, Jan. 12, sign up to receive a recording. Register now. |
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Help others by donating now |
The General Fund of the Wisconsin Conference helps us connect, support and resource pastors, leaders, and congregations. Your gift allows the Conference to provide relevant and timely help during the pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund. |
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In memoriam
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The Rev. Larry Treece died on Dec. 23, 2021. Obituary
The Conference Transitions feature appears monthly in the Wisconsin Conference Life. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with the newsletter editor by emailing Nola.
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The Kairos Call to Action Newsletter was created to support the efforts of congregations, families and individuals who want to be a part of the UCC’s Kairos Call to Action. Through this newsletter the Conference Creation Care Team will provide resources for study and worship, encourage advocacy on behalf of climate justice, and help congregations find and connect with partners who share this common concern and commitment.
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Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community is a communication dedicated to sharing resources and tools, wisdom and insight for congregations and individuals navigating these challenging days. Created by the Conference Supportive Ministries Team, this publication will highlight resources to aid in steering your path forward.
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Ignite Your Fire, Feed Your Soul,
Build Your Faith... In Nature's Sanctuary
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Join the Conference-wide Creation Care Team!
Are you passionate about Creation Care? Want to connect with others who are taking action to care for the earth? The Creation Care Team's primary focus is to encourage, support and provide resources to congregations in the Wisconsin Conference as they do what they can to care for creation. If you would like to be a part of this team, or for more information on the Creation Care Team, contact John Helt. You can also go to the Creation Care webpage to learn more.
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Is your church considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help! Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact Laura McLeod of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.
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Get Involved! A Conference-wide Racial Justice Task Force gathers resources and encourages congregations to engage in conversations around race. If you and your congregation are interested in participating in this group, you are welcome. Contact Lisa Hart get involved.
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Image credits:
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Coronavirus image, public domain from the Public Health Image Library, Alissa Eckert, MSMI, Dan Higgins, MAMS.
- Great Lakes from space image: NASA
This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532
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